How goes that burn in Scott? My pair is much smoother than when I first had them so I don't know what I was thinking saying these don't need burn. They all need a burn. lol!. Maybe I was just shocked at the initial clarity I was hearing..Love the energetic sound these have.

They've been running continuously at home since last night. I usually break in stuff with a variety of real music (as opposed to white/pink noise) that is played at higher volumes than I would normally listen. I'll check on them tonight out of curiosity but probably let them go for a few days anyway before I give them another real serious listen. You're right on the clarity and resolution. I'm sure that is due in no small part to the stiffness of carbon nanotube structures and the fast response that allows. Little bit of handwaving here but I would guess that stiffer drivers might take longer to break in. No biggie, I've got other earphones to use in the mean time.

I will say though, the more decent cheap IEMs I listen to, the more I'm impressed with the silly value of the MP 8320. Once burned in there's not much wrong with them that can't be fixed with a little piece of tape. Or a recable LOL. I did another one that I need to get around to posting in the other thread.

I will say though, the more decent cheap IEMs I listen to, the more I'm impressed with the silly value of the MP 8320. Once burned in there's not much wrong with them that can't be fixed with a little piece of tape. Or a recable LOL. I did another one that I need to get around to posting in the other thread.

Please post it, as well as instructions on how to actually do it. I'm growing tired of having to untangle the cable if I even look at it too hard. That's partially what's preventing me from using it as my primary cheapo earphones.

Please post it, as well as instructions on how to actually do it. I'm growing tired of having to untangle the cable if I even look at it too hard. That's partially what's preventing me from using it as my primary cheapo earphones.

So the 40s came in the mail today. dsnuts hits another $20 score! The fit is purrrrrrfect for my ears. Could never get this fit from the MPs. Definitely needs the burn in but you can get glimpses of the where the sound is going when you get some hours in. Me likey too!

So the 40s came in the mail today. dsnuts hits another $20 score! The fit is purrrrrrfect for my ears. Could never get this fit from the MPs. Definitely needs the burn in but you can get glimpses of the where the sound is going when you get some hours in. Me likey too!

Ya believe it or not I not only saw potential. These stood out to me instantly. Wait till you guys do a full burn on these. These are amazing..These are gonna make you all wonder why we need to spend so damn much for expensive earphones and many of them expensive earphones don't have this sound..

I am now on a good 50 hour mark of burn and I have to say..The highs polish up and the mids are now even with the highs and the bass end is perfect for this sound too..Like I said before, these are gonna surprise every single person they trys them.. Give them a good burn guys. Scott was right these need a solid burn for sure. The mids do open up..Lol. These sound that much better than even when I first heard them.

Lest we forget about Sony, they have a couple of new phones just coming out.

The EX210

and the EX37

The EX210 should be solid. If the EX37's 9mm driver has any relation to the one in my HPM-78 is could be quite good. Maybe some foam in the tube masking some potential unless they are just silly good like the HPM-78.

I have a question about burn-in. Is it important to burn-in for whatever hours at a stretch or is putting hours on the headphones with time OK?

Both. Just leave your earphones on a station somewhat med/loudish and leave it over night. Will speed up the process. I wouldn't be surprised if these need a good 80-100 hours for full potential if not more. Ya the boost in the highs was done for a reason it seems as the mids are not as thin sounding as they used to be. These get better with burn for sure. I use a 5 hour Drum n Bass loop. It does the job like nothing else I have ever tried..Beats the poo out of them drivers. Very effective.

Looks like everyone in Japan is stepping up their game. Except for Panasonic. I have to admit their newest HJE355 is just average at best.Nothing to write home about. These JVCs on the other hand..

Well first off they're really well built. packaging was a bit of a pain, but the phones themselves are tiny and super light, and extremely comfortable.

I'm not entirely sure what i think about the sound. At this point, i'm not SUPER impressed, they're definitely top shelf for $20, but i'm not blown away. However, based on how they sound and how they were described i feel like they have a huge margin for improvement with burn in...

It they're quick and tight, but still veiled. As though the details are there, but slightly muffled and not quite clear. To be fair however, i spent today listening to my TF10s, So i suppose i shouldn't be commenting on clarity.

One thing that bugs me though is that the mids/vocals are more recessed than even the TF10s. For example, the Dave Mathews voice is more distanced and overpowered by all the other music. Much more balanced than the MP and the SHE.

If they improve as much as i hope, they might just be the mix between the she and the MP...

I do tend to listen at low volumes, so that's something to consider as well.

So I have been impressed with cheap stuff in the past. These? WOW fellas. These are unreal! Introducing the new JVC HA-F40 Utilizing Carbon Nanotubes for drivers. I literally just opened these not 5 minutes ago and quite frankly. I am blown away. These sound nothing like a $20 earphone. NOTHING like it at all. These have a clarity and detail level I am not used to at this price point..Not a single aspect lacking. Not in the sound not in the very comfortable build..These make all of the Panasonic earphones seem cheap sounding. These to me sound better than the isurus. Better than the SHE3580.. These should not sound this fantastic. These should not exist at this price range. This is with absolute no burn in what so ever..My mind is BLOWN fellas. Forget the previous cheapos. Try a pair of these. Lol!! WOW.

These remind me of the much more expensive CKM AT earphones I have been reviewing..Rich extended highs. Fully detailed mids. Full tight clean bass end with very nice extension to sub bass. I have no idea how JVC can bring out an earphone that sounds this good so damn cheap. It is just simply amazing..

Very nice detail Check Aha yea so the detail level of these are shocking!

Very clean balanced sound Check No sibilance with plenty of sparkle, smooth liquidy mids and a solid punch.

Good solid depth and width to sound Check Instruments and vocals just POP. Unreal..lol!

Very comfy and small size means these will fit everyone Check

Solid bass end tight and not bloated w great sub bass Double Check.

Lol! These sound fantabulous I have no other way to describe them. I can't believe how good these sound for $20 or so. Check em out fellas. Want to be impressed by yet another fantastic cheapo. These have now raised the bar. If you guys thought the previous cheapos on this thread was impressive. Wait till you guys hear these. I eagerly wait for peoples take on these.

@dnullify. Ya I would burn them in good. I am not hearing any type of veil on my pair. They sounded a bit thin on open box but the sound was and still is tight and you can hear where these are going. The mids are not at the same level as the highs and the bass but they do open up and my pair now has around 60 hours of burn. These are sounding better and better to me with every day of burn.

I think i might have spoken too soon, apparently Dave Mathew's Crash isn't a good album to use to test these puppies out. Jack johnson is sounding amazing warm and detailed at the same time.

Dare i even think it, but i'm seriously comparing these to my JH5s. if you asked me i'd think these are BA/dynamic hybrids, the amount of detail there is yet how warm Jack Johnsons voice is. There is definite Dynamic driver style bass, but tight crips highs as well. I didn't know one dynamic driver this small could do both!

Some few quips 25 minutes or so in:

They're a little more in-your face as far as the soundstage is.

Theres a slight "sandy/gritty" quality to the sound (not sure what the term is)

rimshots, crash symbols, and that impact bongos, and other sharp sounds is a little harsh...

Some songs sound mind-bogglingly good compared to my other phones, whilst some remind you that these are $22 tag... not sure why.

Detailed indeed, and i just went back to the SHE and the MP... Between the two i spent about $22 the same i spent on the FX40. However, these FX40s are much better than either by a mind-boggling amount.

Little more fatiguing to listen to for my ears, but i doubt anyone with normal hearing would have the slightest issue- as you said probably lessen significantly with burn in but i have a feeling that it's just part of these phone's character.

there's a reason i prefer balanced and sweet sounding phones.

edit: i think my philips are getting demoted from pocket duty.

They really can't do M83 Midnight city, just like the mp8320.

can someone explain to me why these do some songs so much better than others, in such an atypical manner?

Ya I know what you mean the highs can sound brittle on some tunes yet full on others. I think the highs could use a bit more depth too but for what is there it is crazy. Burn in does make these sound better no doubt.

Let the burn in commence..I still stand by what I wrote initially. These are freaking mind blowing for the price. Yes they do have a more energetic sound and that is why they sound great for low volume listening. Get used to their sound and these will just throw a big smile on your face. Any of you guys have Sade. Her ultimate collection should be in everyone's collection. Hear that album with these and you tell me what you are hearing. These sound great for rock and metal too. Was checking out some Pantera and Metallica earlier using these. It is the full meal deal for rock n metal.

Listening to some Lil Wayne. Lol! Full on sub bass which you can make out every change of sub bass tone with ease on these. Freakish just freakish.

It turns out that they balance out at a higher volume than i usually listen to. for reference I usually stick to the lower half of the iphone's volume bar. these need to be a smidge past the half way point for the lows, mids, and highs sound right. That explains why i felt the vocals to be so distant. As with the MP8320, the highs seem to be extremely prevalent - perfectly audible at really low volumes, overwhelming at low volumes (where i listen at) to the point where the mids seem recessed and balanced at moderate levels...

That being said the raise in volume made the highs of the sax, the crash of the symbol, and the rimshot on the snare go from uncomfortably crisp to borderline painful. My ears are a ringing now, but i'm sure the highs will mellow out.

Definitely the best $21 i've spent in audio yet... hopefully in anything. Definitely has me questioning my higher priced phones. I think part of the problem is I went from low low end (v-modas) to pretty high end (JH5s) immediately and thus don't have a lot in the $50-150 to compare to. However from what i have heard in that range i can say that in my opinion (which is probably not saying too much), these definitely compete with phones many times their price (2-8x i'd say). Just out of pure clean, clear, detailed, and balanced sound that i don't think exists at $20.

So far in my audio quest, it seems like there is a list of 8-10 characteristics you want out of a pair of headphones. for example, clarity, detailed, balanced sound, balanced bass extension, flexibility, ect.

It seems that the amount of money you pay is proportional to the number of these characteristics you can have in a single pair of headphones, and the quality of these characteristics.

That being said, my initial (and perhaps limited) impression after an hour or so, is that these FX40 holds more characteristics than it should at the price, all of which are very good in quality.

Boy it's amazing how 35 seconds of saxophone can make my dumb ears ring so painfully.

i've got these phones dialed in my ipod's burn in app for 6000 minutes of pink noise. let the burn in begin.